DuringThe Game Awardsthis evening, Wargaming - developers ofWorld of Tanks, World of Warships, andWorld of Warplanes- made a surprise announcement by unveilingSteel Huntersan all-new IP built on Unreal Engine 5 and a game unlike anything they’ve made before.
We met with the devs from the Guilford team virtually ahead of the TGAs for an in-depth look atSteel Huntersand to see some gameplay. TheBeast Warsvibes were strong at first glance, butSteel Huntersis nothing likeTransformers.It’s a third-person mech hero shooter that plays on an open-world mapand blends elements of battle royales and extraction shooters.
Steel Huntersis free-to-play and focuses on and rewards skill and team tactics.Players participate in teams of twoand will succeed based on smart plays and positioning more than perfect aiming, including timing of using powerful abilities that are on cooldowns and synchronizing with your partner. Wargaming refers to this as “Duo Symbiosis” after testing all sorts of team sizes and compositions.
What Are Steel Hunters? The Lore of Wargaming’s New IP Explained
Hunters Are Giant Mechanical Beasts With Unique Abilities & Weapons, Not To Be Mistaken As Mechs Or Exosuits
Steel Huntersis set in a post-cataclysmic world where a rare and valuable alien resource called “Starfall” arrived from space, ruining the livable surface of Earth. The remnants of humanity now live in space or deep underground. The Starfall material is essential to technological evolution and to power the world, so the select few humans who have a natural resistance to the powers of Starfall have become Hunters, transforming their consciousness into the Hunters to battle for this material across various hunting grounds.
When Does Steel Hunters Release?
Wargaming’s Steel Hunters Limited Closed Playtest Starts Now!
Steel Hunters’playtest includes seven mechs (pictured in the first gallery above) with additional Hunters (and more lore) on the way and additional Hunters being released each season after the game’s full launch. Whileplans for monetization have not yet been finalized, the developers tell me we can expect there to be cosmetic purchases and some sort of battle pass system in the future.
The mode featured in theSteel Huntersgameplay unveiled at The Game Awards is called “Starfall Harvest” and this will be what the playtest introduces players to. The full game will feature other modes and events and will evolve as a live service title.
In the interest of full disclosure and transparency,ScreenRantconfirms it is on the judging panel at The Game Awards 2024. Our editorial process is separate from our contributions to judging, and as such, our panel inclusion does not compromise our journalistic integrity.
